Anusha Iyer: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do?
Allison Russo: My work has always been rooted in music education. I have two degrees in music education and was an elementary band teacher in central New York State for a few years before I moved to New Jersey. I worked at a jazz education non-profit for six years, which is where I fell in love with Newark. Now I am a freelance arts education consultant. I focus on helping teachers create ethical and effective learning spaces. That includes instilling trust in your students, using a wide variety of music, and taking care of yourself as a teacher, amongst many other things. I work with individual teachers and teaching artists and well as whole organizations.
AI: How did you get into music education?
AR: I started playing flute in 4th grade and took to it immediately. I was fortunate that I went to schools with strong music programs, and had teachers who believed in me. When I was in high school, my band teacher really groomed me to be a music teacher, so I started teaching back then. Once I got a taste for it, I never looked back.
AI: How do you think opportunity affects success? Are students with more opportunities more likely to become high achievers than students with less opportunity?
AR: If someone does not have opportunities available to them, they will not even have the option to demonstrate success. I think opportunity can lead to success, but a lack of opportunities rarely leads to success. When doors are opened for students, they are challenged to succeed or fail. If a student can learn from their failure and face the challenge again, they have succeeded anyway.
AI: Can you give me any examples of instances where you’ve seen this?
AR: If you see any “honors” ensembles coming from multiple schools, you’ll see more students from schools that have more robust music programs, AKA more opportunities. That’s likely because they were given more opportunities in their music education. When students are systematically excluded, the effect is compounded over their lifetimes: a lack of opportunities prevents other opportunities.
AI: How do you think K2S helps provide students with opportunities to become successful?
AR: K2S opens doors for students: quality lessons, starting in earlier grades, consistent faculty, special summer programs— everything that students need to compete on a higher level. By providing opportunities for students who are typically excluded and breaking down barriers to music education, Keys 2 Success breaks the cycle that has kept classical music exclusive to “those who have."
AI: Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!
AR: You're very welcome!
Allison Russo was introduced to Keys 2 Success when she was participating in the Victoria Emerging Leaders Program (VELP) hosted by the Rutgers Institue for Ethical Leadership. She volunteered with K2S throughout the pandemic as a pro-bono grant writer. In June 2021, she accepted our invitation to join the Board of Directors for a 3-year term. She is our current Treasurer and heads the Fundraising Committee. Ms. Russo is the founder of The Critical Good. She is happily married and is mother to two adorable toddlers who are already starting their musical journey "playing" on the family piano.
